Califone Reggio Based Audio Colors

Califone Reggio Based Audio Colors

Califone announced a change to the color of its rolling and table top audio pods.

Popular in daycare centers and kindergartens, the audio pods available with the Spirit and Performer Plus multimedia player recorders will transition to an earth tone color, adhering to the Reggio Emilia philosophy.

The Reggio Society focuses on children’s capabilities and has created a program rich in learning, research, communication, reconsideration and reflection in a social environment. Integral to this is that children, teachers and parents have strong communications networks. The Reggio Approach is also known as “the education based on relationships.” They focus on individual child’s relationship and communication with other children, family, teachers, and environment of the school as well as the child’s relation to society.

Principles of the Reggio Emilia Approach:

• The child as protagonist, collaborator, and communicator
• The teacher as partner, nurturer, guide, and researcher
• Cooperation as the foundation of the educational system
• The environment as the “third teacher”
• The Parent as Partner
• Documentation as communication

The Environment as the “Third Teacher”
In the Reggio Emilia’s preschool schools, the physical environment of the school is often referred to as the “third teacher” or “third educator” based on its importance. Greenman mentions that environment “indicates the way time is structured and the roles we are expected to play. It conditions how we feel, think, and behave; and dramaticaly affects the quality of our lives. (Greenman, J., (1988). Caring spaces, learning places: Children’s environments that work. Redmond, WA: Exchange Press., P.5)

The Reggio Emilia’s educators view the school as a living organism, a place of shared relationships between the children, the teachers, and the parents. They believe that the schools should produce a feeling of belonging for the adults and the children in a world that is alive, welcoming and authentic (Malaguzzi, 1994, p. 58). Instead of primary colors, cartoon characters and simple shapes, Reggio Emilia schools focus on providing live plants, flowers, beautiful photographs, artworks, and natural lighting. Teachers organize space for small (one to three children) and large group activities. The classrooms are provided with various materials to create rich environments for activities. And, in order to encourage creativity all of the equipments are organized and easily teachable or children.

The physical space layout in the schools encourages encounter, communication and relationships. The structures, objects and activities are planned in a way to encourage developing decision making, problem solving skills and arising curiosity. In preparing the space, teachers are aware that children learn from their peers (especially when they can interact in small groups), but they still offer children the choice of who they would want to be with – the teacher and many other children, just with a few of the children, or by themselves.

Schools Adopting Reggio Approach
The Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education is used in some of the most highly rated preschools throughout America and Europe. The National Association of the Education of Young Children revised its guidelines to include more of Reggio Emilia’s young childhood program.

Earth Tone Colors
Earth tone color scheme is drawn from a color palette of browns, tans, grays, greens,. oranges, whites, blues and some red. The colors are muted and flat in an emulation of natural colors found in dirt, moss, trees and rocks. Most of the earth tone colors are originated from clay earth pigments such as umber, ochre and sienna.

Benefits of Earth Tone Colors
The child’s learning environment could influence them in many ways. Children in different ages accept and reject colors according to their development. For young children, leaving the security of the home environment is challenging. thus, creating a sense of security in their educational environment is very important. The earth tone palettes are rich in shading and depth. they create a warm and nature-friendly environment, and promote a feeling of harmony.

The president of International Association of Color Consultants, Frank Manhke, recommended color scheme of light salmon, warm yellow, pale yellow-orange, coral, and peaches. These colors help reduce tension and anxiety by complimenting the nature of young children. Colors from the cool spectrum, blues and blue-greens can balance the palette and work as accents. A balanced palette of warm and cool colors reduces tension, nervousness and anxiety. And all these colors could be found in Earth tone colors.

The all-in-one pods are self contained learning centers for audio-based content. They’re available in table top or rolling cart configurations and include the Spirit or Performer Plus multimedia players, jackbox and headphones.